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To his parents? And his brother?
I wanted to die.
Was it possible for the floor to open up and swallow me whole? Maybe I could choke on a grape.
I tried. No luck.
Tully chuckled beside me, his face far too close to mine. “You okay there?” he whispered.
“No. Is a sinkhole not too much to ask for?”
He laughed and kissed my shoulder, then pulled me to my feet. “Okay, we’re gonna get going.”
“Oh, did you sign whatever needed signing?” I asked. I hadn’t noticed him doing that, but this had all been such a whirlwind.
“No.” Tully glared at his brother. “Ellis was bullshitting me. This was an ambush.”
Ellis grinned. “Just wanted to see if you actually existed, sorry. And to embarrass Tully. Given Mum and Dad were both in the office, it was perfect timing.”
“Oh.”
All right then.
Tully grumbled. “After travellin’ ten thousand kilometres in two days, he had to pack up his apartment, maybe grab a few hours’ sleep to make it back to the airport in time this morning, fly for half a day, only to get here and meet my family without any warning.” He put his arm around me. “Jeremiah has every right to be pissed at you, Ellis.”
Oh my... “Uh, no, it’s fine,” I said quickly.
Tully nudged me. “No, be pissed at him.”
I shook my head. “No, no. It’s fine.”
Ellis stood up. “I’m sorry.”
I shrank back into Tully and gave him pleading eyes. “I said it’s fine.”
“Why won’t you yell at him,” Tully urged. “Lay on the guilt. Make him suffer.”
Oh god.
This was all a ploy to chide his brother.
I smiled at Mr and Mrs Larson. “Thank you for the food and coffee. It was very nice to meet you.” And then Ellis. “And you, as well. But yes, I should get going. I need to check in at the office this evening.”
Tully slung his arm over my shoulders, not before giving his brother the bird, and led me to the door. “Why didn’t you rip him a new one?” he asked. “I set it up perfectly.”
“Because he looks too much like you!”
Obviously, I said that too loud because Ellis laughed before the cafeteria door could shut, and Tully gave him another bird before leading me out and into the car.
I sat in the seat, and Tully closed my door. I couldn’t believe what had just happened. I couldn’t get my thoughts together. Apparently, all I could do was stammer at Tully as he got in behind the wheel.
“Wh-wh-what the... I just... just met... oh my god. Those were your parents!”
Tully’s annoyingly breathtaking grin lit up his whole stupidly handsome face. “Okay, first up, I had no idea. That was all Ellis’ doing. So, I’m sorry for blindsiding you. Not my intention at all.” He sat back in his seat, still smiling, far too pleased with himself. “But ya know what? I ain’t mad about it.”
“I can see that.”
“I thought it went well.”
